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Fifth Substitute H.B. 204

This document includes Senate 3rd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 10:23 AM by lpoole. --> This document includes Senate 3rd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 12:49 PM by lpoole. --> This document includes Senate 3rd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 1:01 PM by lpoole. --> This document includes Senate 3rd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 1:19 PM by lpoole. --> This document includes Senate 3rd Reading Floor Amendments incorporated into the bill on Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 1:35 PM by lpoole. -->

Senator Aaron Osmond proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
ELECTION AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Steve Eliason

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Aaron Osmond

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions relating to elections.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    clarifies how to cast a valid absentee ballot;
             13          .    changes the date by which a voter is required to file an application for an absentee
             14      ballot; and
             15          .    makes technical changes.
             16      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             17          None
             18      Other Special Clauses:
             19          This bill coordinates with H.B. 53, Election Law Amendments, by providing
             20      substantive amendments.
             20a      S. This bill coordinates with S.B. 24, Absentee Ballot Amendments, by providing substantive
             20b      amendments. .S
             21      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             22      AMENDS:
             23          20A-3-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 195
             24          20A-3-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17
             25          20A-3-306, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 309

             26          20A-3-702, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 291
             27          20A-16-302, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 327
             28          20A-16-401, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 327
             29          20A-16-402, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 327
             30      Utah Code Sections Affected by Coordination Clause:
             30a           S. 20A-3-304, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 17 .S
             31          20A-3-306, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2012, Chapter 309
             32     
             33      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             34          Section 1. Section 20A-3-301 is amended to read:
             35           20A-3-301. Voting by absentee ballot.
             36          (1) Any person who is registered to vote may vote by absentee ballot.
             37          (2) [A] Except as provided in Section 20A-3-702 , a registered voter may not vote in
             38      person if the voter voted by absentee ballot.
             39          Section 2. Section 20A-3-304 is amended to read:
             40           20A-3-304. Application for absentee ballot -- Time for filing and voting.
             41          (1) Any registered voter who wishes to vote an absentee ballot may either:
             42          (a) file an absentee ballot application:
             43          (i) on the electronic system maintained by the lieutenant governor under Section
             44      20A-2-206 ; or
             45          (ii) with the appropriate election officer for an official absentee ballot as provided in
             46      this section; or
             47          (b) vote in person at the office of the appropriate election officer as provided in Section
             48      20A-3-306 .
             49          (2) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the lieutenant governor or election
             50      officer shall prepare an application form for absentee ballot applications in substantially the
             51      following form:
             52          "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah
             53      apply for an official absentee ballot to be voted by me at the election.
             54          Date ________ (month\day\year) Signed ___________________________
             55                                      Voter"
             56          (b) The lieutenant governor or election officer shall prepare blank applications for

             57      absentee ballot applications for regular primary elections and for the Western States
             58      Presidential Primary in substantially the following form:
             59          "I, ____, a qualified elector, residing at ____ Street, ____ City, ____ County, Utah
             60      apply for an official absentee ballot for the _______________ political party to be voted by me
             61      at the primary election.
             62          I understand that I must be affiliated with or authorized to vote the political party's
             63      ballot that I request.
             64          Dated _________ (month\day\year) ____ Signed ___________________________
             65                                          Voter"
             66          (c) If requested by the applicant, the election officer shall:
             67          (i) mail or fax the application blank to the absentee voter; or
             68          (ii) deliver the application blank to any voter who personally applies for it at the office
             69      of the election officer.
             70          (3) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b) or Subsection 20A-3-306 (2)(a), a voter
             71      who wishes to vote by absentee ballot shall file the application for an absentee ballot with the
             72      lieutenant governor or appropriate election officer no later than the [Friday] Thursday before
             73      election day.
             74          (b) Overseas applicants shall file their applications with the appropriate election officer
             75      no later than 20 days before election day.
             76          (4) (a) A county clerk may establish a permanent absentee voter list.
             77          (b) The clerk shall place on the list the name of any person who:
             78          (i) requests permanent absentee voter status; and
             79          (ii) meets the requirements of this section.
             80          (c) (i) Each year, the clerk shall mail a questionnaire to each person whose name is on
             81      the absentee voter list.
             82          (ii) The questionnaire shall allow the absentee person to verify the voter's residence.
             83          (iii) The clerk may remove the names of any voter from the absentee voter registration
             84      list if:
             85          (A) the voter is no longer listed in the official register; or
             86          (B) the voter fails to verify the voter's residence and absentee status.
             87          (d) The clerk shall provide a copy of the permanent absentee voter list to election

             88      officers for use in elections.
             89          Section 3. Section 20A-3-306 is amended to read:
             90           20A-3-306. Voting ballot -- Returning ballot.
             91          (1) (a) To vote a mail-in absentee ballot, the absentee voter shall:
             92          (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
             93          (ii) mark the votes on the absentee ballot;
             94          (iii) place the voted absentee ballot in the envelope;
             95          (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
             96          (v) attach postage, unless voting in accordance with Section 20A-3-302 , and deposit
             97      the envelope in the mail or deliver it in person to the election officer from whom the ballot was
             98      obtained.
             99          (b) To vote an absentee ballot in person at the office of the election officer, the absent
             100      voter shall:
             101          (i) complete and sign the affidavit on the envelope;
             102          (ii) mark the votes on the absent-voter ballot;
             103          (iii) place the voted absent-voter ballot in the envelope;
             104          (iv) securely seal the envelope; and
             105          (v) give the ballot and envelope to the election officer.
             106          (2) An absentee ballot is not valid unless:
             107          (a) in the case of an absentee ballot that is voted in person, [it is] the ballot is:
             108          (i) applied for and cast in person at the office of the appropriate election officer no later
             109      than the [Friday] Thursday before election day; or
             110          (ii) submitted at a polling location in the political subdivision where the absentee voter
             111      resides;
             112          (b) in the case of an absentee ballot that is returned by mail, the ballot is:
             113          (i) clearly postmarked before election day; and
             114          (ii) received in the office of the election officer before noon on the day of the official
             115      canvass following the election; or
             116          [(b)] (c) in the case of a military-overseas ballot, the ballot is submitted in accordance
             117      with Section 20A-16-404 .
             118          (3) An absentee voter may submit a completed absentee ballot at a polling location in a

             119      political subdivision holding the election, if the absentee voter resides in the political
             120      subdivision.
             121          (4) An absentee voter may submit an incomplete absentee ballot at a polling location
             122      for the voting precinct where the voter resides, request that the ballot be declared spoiled, and
             123      vote in person.
             124          Section 4. Section 20A-3-702 is amended to read:
             125           20A-3-702. Election day voting center -- Hours of operation -- Compliance with
             126      Election Code.
             127          (1) An election officer may operate an election day voting center in one or more
             128      locations designated under Section 20A-3-703 .
             129          (2) An election officer shall provide for voting at an election day voting center by:
             130          (a) regular ballot if:
             131          (i) the election day voting center is designated under Section 20A-5-403 as the polling
             132      place for the voting precinct in which the voter resides; and
             133          (ii) the voter is eligible to vote using a regular ballot in accordance with this title;
             134          (b) voting center ballot if:
             135          (i) the election day voting center is not designated under Section 20A-5-403 as the
             136      polling place for the voting precinct in which the voter resides;
             137          (ii) the voter resides within the political subdivision holding the election; and
             138          (iii) the voter is otherwise eligible to vote using a regular ballot in accordance with this
             139      title; or
             140          (c) provisional ballot if the voter is only eligible to vote using a provisional ballot in
             141      accordance with this title.
             142          (3) An election officer shall ensure that an election day voting center:
             143          (a) is open on election day during the time period specified under Section 20A-1-302 ;
             144          (b) allows an eligible voter to vote if the voter:
             145          (i) resides within the political subdivision holding an election; and
             146          (ii) arrives at the election day voting center by the designated closing time in
             147      accordance with Section 20A-1-302 ; and
             148          (c) is administered according to the requirements of this title.
             149          (4) A person may submit a completed absentee ballot at an election day voting center

             150      for the political subdivision in which the person resides.
             151          (5) A person may submit an incomplete absentee ballot at an election day voting center
             152      for the political subdivision in which the person resides, request that the ballot be declared
             153      spoiled, and vote in person.
             154          Section 5. Section 20A-16-302 is amended to read:
             155           20A-16-302. Methods of registering to vote.
             156          (1) To apply to register to vote, in addition to any other approved method, a covered
             157      voter may use a federal postcard application or the application's electronic equivalent.
             158          (2) (a) A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in
             159      absentee ballot to apply to register to vote simultaneously with the submission of the federal
             160      write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received by the [Friday] Thursday immediately
             161      before the election.
             162          (b) If the declaration is received after the [Friday] Thursday immediately before the
             163      election, the declaration shall be treated as an application to register to vote for subsequent
             164      elections.
             165          (3) (a) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the electronic transmission system
             166      described in Subsection 20A-16-201 (3) is capable of accepting both a federal postcard
             167      application and any other approved electronic registration application sent to the appropriate
             168      election official.
             169          (b) The voter may use the electronic transmission system or any other approved
             170      method to register to vote.
             171          Section 6. Section 20A-16-401 is amended to read:
             172           20A-16-401. Methods of applying for military-overseas ballots.
             173          (1) A covered voter who is registered to vote in the state may apply for a
             174      military-overseas ballot using:
             175          (a) an absentee ballot application under Section 20A-3-304 ; or
             176          (b) (i) the federal postcard application; or
             177          (ii) the federal postcard application's electronic equivalent.
             178          (2) A covered voter who is not registered to vote in this state may use a federal
             179      postcard application or the federal postcard application's electronic equivalent to apply
             180      simultaneously to register to vote under Section 20A-16-302 and for a military-overseas ballot.

             181          (3) (a) The lieutenant governor shall ensure that the electronic transmission system
             182      described in Subsection 20A-16-201 (3) is capable of accepting the submission of both a federal
             183      postcard application and any other approved electronic military-overseas ballot application sent
             184      to the appropriate election official.
             185          (b) The voter may use the electronic transmission system or any other approved
             186      method to apply for a military-overseas ballot.
             187          (4) A covered voter may use the declaration accompanying a federal write-in absentee
             188      ballot as an application for a military-overseas ballot simultaneously with the submission of the
             189      federal write-in absentee ballot, if the declaration is received by the appropriate election official
             190      by the [Friday] Thursday immediately before the election.
             191          (5) To receive the benefits of this chapter, a covered voter shall inform the appropriate
             192      election official that the voter is a covered voter by:
             193          (a) the use of a federal postcard application or federal write-in absentee ballot;
             194          (b) the use of an overseas address on an approved voter registration application or
             195      ballot application; or
             196          (c) the inclusion on an approved voter registration application or ballot application of
             197      other information sufficient to identify the voter as a covered voter.
             198          (6) This chapter does not preclude a covered voter from voting under Chapter 3, Part 3,
             199      Absentee Voting.
             200          Section 7. Section 20A-16-402 is amended to read:
             201           20A-16-402. Timeliness and scope of application for military-overseas ballot.
             202          (1) An application for a military-overseas ballot is timely if received by the [Friday]
             203      Thursday immediately before the election.
             204          (2) An application for a military-overseas ballot for a regular primary election or
             205      municipal primary election, whether or not timely, is effective as an application for a
             206      military-overseas ballot for the regular general election or municipal general election.
             207          Section 8. Coordinating H.B. 204 with H.B. 53 -- Substantive amendments.
             208          If this H.B. 204 and H.B. 53, Election Law Amendments, both pass and become law, it
             209      is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, in
             210      preparing the Utah Code database for publication, modify Subsection 20A-3-306 (2) to read as
             211      follows:

             212          "(2) An absentee ballot is not valid unless:
             213          (a) in the case of an absentee ballot that is voted in person, [it is] the ballot is:
             214          (i) applied for and cast in person at the office of the appropriate election officer no later
             215      than the [Friday] Thursday before election day; or
             216          (ii) submitted on election day at a polling location in the political subdivision where
             217      the absentee voter resides;
             218          (b) in the case of an absentee ballot that is submitted by mail, the ballot is:
             219          (i) clearly postmarked before election day; and
             220          (ii) received in the office of the election officer before noon on the day of the official
             221      canvass following the election; or
             222          [(b)] (c) in the case of a military-overseas ballot, the ballot is submitted in accordance
             223      with Section 20A-16-404.".
             223a      S. Section 9. Coordinating H.B. 204 with S.B. 24 -- Substantive amendments.
             223b          If this H.B. 204 and S.B. 24, Absentee Ballot Amendments, both pass and become law, it
             223c      is the intent of the Legislature that the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, in
             223d      preparing the Utah Code database for publication, do the following:
             223e          (1) the changes in Subsection 20A-3-304(3) in H.B. 204 do not take effect; and
             223f          (2) modify Subsection 20A-3-304(5) in S.B. 24 to read as follows:
             223g          "(5) Except as provided in Subsection 20A-3-306(2)(a), a voter who wishes to vote by
             223h      absentee ballot shall file the application for an absentee ballot with the lieutenant governor or
             223i      appropriate election officer no later than the [Friday] Thursday before election day." . .S

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